Variation of Reaction Time in Different Phases of Menstrual Cycle

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the influence of menstrual cycle on auditory and visual reaction times.Method: This study was conducted on thirty, healthy, regularly menstruating female subjects who were in the age group of 18-25 years. Influence of different phases of menstrual cycle on Auditory Reaction Time (ART) and Visual Reaction Time (VRT) was evaluated by using a portable audiovisual reaction time apparatus. Result:The statistical tests which were used were ANOVA and Students 't' test, which showed that there were significant increases in ART and VRT during luteal phase, as compared to those in follicular phase. Conclusion:Changes in ART and VRT during different phases of menstrual cycle could be due to changes in the levels of female sex hormones, which in turn may lead to salt and water retention. INTRODUCTIONMenstrual cycle refers to the cyclic changes which occur in the endometrium during active reproductive years in females, leading to a recurrent monthly bleeding per vaginum. Menstrual cycle of 28 days can be divided into 3 phases, menstrual, proliferative (follicular), and luteal (secretory). About 24 hours before the end of menstrual cycle, oestrogen and progesterone levels decline, resulting in menstrual bleeding. This is followed by a proliferative phase which is under the influence of oestrogen and then the secretory phase, which is under the influence of oestrogen and progesterone [1].Gonadal hormones not only influence the reproductive functions, but they also display neuroactive effects [2]. Some behavioural and neurological symptoms like a decreased concentration, nervous irritability, emotional instability, poor judgement, depression and tension are seen in women during the premenstrual phase [3].Reaction time is used to measure the ability in processing information and in judging the ability to concentrate and coordinate [4]. Reaction time is defined as the time interval between the application of a stimulus and an appropriate voluntary response from the subject [5]. It has been used as a measure of cognition [6].It is considered to be an index of speed of processing [7]. It represents the level of neuromuscular coordination in which the body, through different physical, chemical and mechanical processes, decodes ART and VRT, which travel via afferent pathways and reach the brain as sensory stimuli [8]. Studies have shown that reaction time is significantly prolonged during premenstrual phase [3,5,9,10]. MATERIAL AND METHODSThis study was conducted in the Department of Physiology SSIMS and RC after getting the approval of the institutional ethical committee, from September 2012 to December 2012. Thirty, apparently healthy, eumenorrhic females who were in the age group of 18-25 years, who did not have any history of irregular menstrual cycles, pregnancy, lactation or use of contraceptives in past one year, were included in the study. Subjects with a history of visual or hearing disorders, any psychiatric illness or sleep disorders, smoking or alcohol intake were excluded from the study. Th...

Cognitive Performance Enhancement Induced by Caffeine, Carbohydrate and Guarana Mouth Rinsing during Submaximal Exercise

“…At present, mechanisms accountable of ergogenic effects of GUA ingestion on cognitive performance need to be further investigated. We should also note that some studies suggest that oral contraceptive steroids and estrogen have a significant impact on caffeine metabolism [ 79 ] and that RT lengthens in the high-progesterone, luteal phase of the menstrual cycle [ 80 ]. The fact that the influence of different phases of menstrual cycle of the female participants has not been controlled in the present study, due to methodological difficulties, is also a limitation.…”

Effects of Different Doses of Caffeinated Coffee on Muscular Endurance, Cognitive Performance, and Cardiac Autonomic Modulation in Caffeine Naive Female Athletes

“…Adherence to diet and avoidance procedures were checked verbally before each session. Although increase in the resistance exercise performance was reported to show a similar magnitude in all three phases of the menstrual cycle [ 30 ], cognitive performance [ 32 ] and pain perception tolerance appeared to decline [ 43 ] in the luteal phase. Therefore, all sessions were performed during the luteal phase of the participants’ menstrual cycle, of which was pursued for 4 months before the onset of the experiment via a mobile application (menstruation calendar—period tracking, TR).…”

“…Only Ali et al examined female athletes’ responses to 6 mg/kg/bm of anhydrous caffeine, showing non-significant but positive trends ( p = 0.072) in cognitive function [ 29 ]. Although the positive effect of 3 mg/kg/bm of anhydrous caffeine on the velocity of half-squat exercise [ 30 ] and peak aerobic cycling power [ 31 ] were reported to be similar in all three phases of the menstrual cycle, Kumar et al demonstrated cognitive performance declines in the high progesterone, luteal phase of the menstrual cycle [ 32 ]. Muscle performance is defined by the characteristics of a complex network of mental and physical elements, investigating caffeine’s effect on cognitive performance will help us better understand its ergogenic properties.…”

The Effect of Iron-Fortified Lentils on Blood and Cognitive Status among Adolescent Girls in Bangladesh

“…This is likely due to the fact that, across the age range for this sample (10-17 y), there are significant increases in processing speed, measured as decreases in RTs. It is also the case that this age range includes the mean menarcheal age (15.8 y) for girls in Bangladesh, with there being evidence that there are significant variations in RTs across the phases of the menstrual cycle [25].…”